Justice and Advocacy Program

We are the advocacy and public policy arm of the The Lehigh Conference of Churches. The purpose of the LCC Justice and Advocacy Committee (J&AC) is to engage advocates for justice in meaningful, theologically-based discussion which may lead to public statements or action. Through the Justice and Advocacy Network, we invite churches, church committees and individuals to partner with us and each other in addressing social justice issues of concern to the local community.

We have also organized several informal gatherings "Congregations in Mission: Finding Common Causes" for missions/outreach/social concerns committee members from different congregations to get acquainted with each other and to form new partnerships where there are common interests.

On Monday, June 5, PA legislators will be heading to Harrisburg to get serious about a new budget for Pennsylvania. Come join the budget rally, lobbying events, and issue-specific events.
Also, on Thursday, June 1, at 7:15pm there will be a tele-town hall, presented by the Pennsylvania Budget and Policy Center. Learn more here: www.pachoice.org/BudgetAction/ or the Facebook event page.
There will be a bus from Lehigh Valley to Harrisburg for June 5th lobby day activities – rally and visits with legislators. The bus is free. Register at http://bit.ly/2pw2g3v.
Sponsoring organizations include SEIU, Pennsylvania’s Choice campaign, POWER, PA Budget and Policy Center, and others.

A constitutional amendment is needed to stop Pennsylvania’s rampant gerrymandering of legislative districts. Bills have been introduced in PA House and Senate: HR-722 (92 sponsors), and SB-22 (13 sponsors), but legislation is currently stuck in committee. For details, see fairdistrictspa.com.

February 9, 2017 (Thursday, 7pm) – at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center Street, Bethlehem, PA.THE ISSUE: the Pennsylvania Legislature redraws the boundaries of legislative districts every ten years, after each national census. But the original goal of redistricting — to ensure voting districts remain equal in population — has been undermined by political manipulation of electoral boundaries by both major parties. Now we have an opportunity to correct the process.
This will be an organizational meeting to form a regional working group. See fairdistricts.ppjr.org for details about the issue and links to other resources.

May 6, 2017 (Saturday, 9:00am to 4:00pm) This one-day Learning Tour is designed to shed light on early Native American life and settlements in the Lehigh Valley. Join us as we view the historic Jasper Pits in Vera Cruz, see Lee Hallman’s personal collection of artifacts and visit the Museum of Indian Culture of which Hallman is curator. Mennonite historians John Ruth and Darvin Martin will join Curtis Book in reflecting on the intersection that the Doctrine of Discovery had on early Mennonites, other settlers and Native Americans in 18th Century Lehigh Valley, Pa. Organized by the Mennonite Central Committee. See the details here.

Saturday, April 1, 2017 (9am-5pm) – Explore racism as a systemic, institutional problem of power that goes beyond personal prejudice; learn about a strategic methodology that can assist people in effectively organizing to dismantle racism in their institutions.
Location: The Ice House, 56 River St. Bethlehem, PA.
For details and registration, see this announcement.

United for a Fair Economy has released the fourteenth annual State of the Dream report which features reflections from leaders and advocates that are fighting inequalities everyday, and contains a short, accessible snapshot of where we are as nation on the topics of wages, wealth, health, housing, immigration, and LGBT inclusion. ( See www.faireconomy.org/dream17 )

Sunday, February 26, 2017, 2:00pm
Payrow Plaza (Bethlehem City Hall), 10 E. Church Street
Wear a hoodie and rally in memory of Travon Martin and in the hope of a safer future for young men of color.
(See www.mcclv.org/events.html )

Friday, April 7, 2017, 9:00 am,
Dubbs Memorial Community Center
457 Allen Street, Allentown, PA 18102
with Robert P. Jones, a leading scholar and commentator on religion, culture, and politics.
For more detals, see www.lehighchurches.org/events